Although details and information from my source for the Minute today is very limited, I felt it worth a mention as I really don't recall seeing another race at the Bloomburg Fairgrounds in Bloomburg, PA. This one-half mile dirt track was the scene for a 100 mile event on this date 60 years ago.
My source does tell me that Jim Paschal won the pole in a Dodge, at a speed of 55.935 mph, but I have no other starting position information. We do have to remember that during the 1953 season, the Hudson Hornets were THE cars to beat each and every race. Same story here.
Herb Thomas would win in The FABULOUS Hudson Hornet and Jim Rathmann would finish second in the Walt Chapman Hudson. It was Herb Thomas' 11th win of the 1953 season out of 33 races. It was the 12th time Rathmann finished second in the same 33 races. Elton Hilreth was in the top five for the first time and what made this finish so special is that it was one of a very few instances when the Nash Ambassador (the upside down bathtub) ran in the top five. It was indeed a reason for celebration.
Pole winner, Jim Paschal, fell out just past the half-way point when his Dodge developed problems. No other real information is available but perhaps Dave Fulton can dig up some more information. I would like to know more about this 21 car race on a track with which I am not familiar.
Top five finishers were:
1. Herb Thomas, FABULOUS Hudson Hornet, winning $1,000.00
2. Dick Rathmann, Walt Chapman Hudson, winning $700.00
3. Buck Baker, Griffin Motors Oldsmobile, winning $450.00
4. Elton Hildreth, Nash Ambassador, winning $350.00
5. Bob Welborn, Plymouth, winning $200.00
Sixth through tenth were Lee Petty, Ted Chamberlain, Robert Walden, Wimpy Ervin (that's how he is listed) and Ed DeWolff. The remaining eleven racers credited with 11th through 21st were Mickey Rorer, Frank Katucka, Jim Baker, Frank Price, Fonty Flock, Jim Paschal, Ed Van Horn, Ernie Weidler, Frank Kapack, Ed Spencer, and Vic Strassburg.
I have memories of watching the Hudson Hornets race and everytime I think of those memories I see those beautiful cars just floating around those dirt tracks. One of my most wonderful memories is watching those Hornets race. I'm glad to be as old as I am or I would have missed that.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM